Annealing-box.



J. P. ALLEN.

ANNEALING BOX. APPLIoATzoN FILED 11:11.14. 1911.

1,003,959. Patented sept. 19,1911.

" ful/111111111111450 INVEN'I'OR COLUMBIA PMNOCIAP 60.. WASHINGTON, D.L'-

WITNESBES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES I. ALLEN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ANNEALING-BOX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. ALLEN, a resident of Pittsburg, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Annealing-Boxes, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to annealing boxes, and particularly to all caststeel boxes.

The object is to improve cast annealing boxes to render them moredurable than boxes as heretofore constructed, and particularly toprevent them from collapsing or sagging under the softening effect ofthe long continued severe heat to which subjected.

It is well known that the soakingV heat to which annealing boxes aresubjected renders them liable to sag and collapse, due to the weight ofthe metal in the upper por tions thereof, and that the arched roofparticularly is liable to sag and push the sides out of the vertical,causing the entire box to collapse.

The present invention is designed to overcome the defects as far aspossible.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is in part a side elevation and inpart a. vertical longitudinal section of the box; Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection on the line 2 2, Fig. 1 looking upwardly; and Fig. 3 is atransverse section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

The bottom of the box may be of any known or desired construction and isnot shown. The top or box proper is formed as an integral casting ofgeneral rectangular form, having the end Walls 4, side walls 5 andarched roof 6 which springs from the side walls in a gradual curve. Tosupport the roof and prevent the same from sagging it is reinforcedinternally by transverse trusses 8, which extend uninterruptedly fromside to side and connect to the side walls at or near the point wherethe roof springs therefrom. These trusses each comprise a bottom chord 9whose lower edge is preferably thickened or bulbous, as shown at 10, toprevent cracking, and struts 11 extending from the chord to the roof.The roof is further supported by a longitudinal truss 12 `extendinguninterruptedly for the entire length of the box and conneeted to theend walls. This longitudinal truss likewise comprises a chord 14thickened or bulbous at its lower edge, as at 15,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led lFebruary 14, 1911.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Serial No. 608,589.

and struts 16 extending therefrom to the roof in line with thetransverse trusses, and other struts 17 extending from the chord 14: tothe roof between adjacent transverse trusses.

In the construction described and illustrated both the longitudinaltruss and also the transverse trusses extend uninterruptedly for thefull length and width of the box, without gaps' or brakes, and thestruts 1G are common to both the longitudinal truss and the severaltransverse struts. As a consequence the roof is supported in alldirections against sagging, it being impossible for it to sag betweentransverse trusses as is the case where no longitudinal truss is used orsaid longitudinal truss is inter-V rupted.

Externally the box is provided with longitudinal ribs 18 which extenduninterruptedly entirely around the box, and with vertical ribs 19 onthe side walls and extending uninterruptedly from near the bottom of thebox to a point well above where the roof springs from the side walls andabove the line where the transverse trusses join the sides, as shown inFig. 3. This design of external ribbing is however not claimed herein,and any other accepted design of external ribbing may be used in placeof the design shown on the drawings.

The box either on the ends or sides is provided with suitable means,such as the projections 20, `for the attachment of a crane grapple, orother lifter.

The box described is a single integral casting and hence free fromjoints of all kinds which are liable to open under repeated contractionand expansion and admit air which would destroy the sheets therein. Theentire box, both as to the walls and roof is so well reinforced thatsagging is almost impossible, or in any event much delayed as comparedwith boxes as heretofore constructed. As a consequence the life thereofis very much increased.

What I claim is:

1. An annealing box formed as an integral casting having side and endwalls and an arched roof, and a longitudinal truss member connecting theend walls and extending uninterruptedly from end to end underneath theroof and supporting the same.

2. An annealing box formed as an integral casting having side and endWalls and an arched roof, and a longitudinal truss member connecting theend Walls and comprising a chord joined to the end Walls and extendinguninterruptedly for the length of the boX, andv struts extending fromsaid chord to the roof.

3. An annealing box formed as an integral casting having side and endWalls and an arched roof, and truss members arranged both transverselyand longitudinally underneath the roof and extending uninterruptedlyacross and lengthwise of the boX.

4L. An annealing boX formed as an integral casting having side and endWalls and an arched roof, and transverse and longitudinal trusses forthe roof each comprising an uninterrupted chord and struts extendingtherefrom to the roof.

5. An annealing box formed asV an integral casting having side and endWalls and an arched roof, and transverse and longitudinal trusses forthe roof each comprising an uninterrupted chord and struts extendingtherefromto the roof, said trusses at the pointof intersection havingcommon struts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES P. ALLEN.

Witnesses F. W. WINTER, MARY E. CAHooN.

Copies of this patent may beobtaned for five cents each` by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

